Tire roof

ABSTRACT

A method for constructing a roof covering out of automobile tires, said tires being cut and segmented in a certain manner and then attached to the roof decking, and the roof covering resulting from the method. The invention is also in a covering for the outside walls of a building and for other structures.

United States Patent 1191 Fulton TIRE ROOF [76] Inventor: Gary RichardFulton, c/o Fulton Roof Products, 167 W. Interstate 10, Houston, Tex.77410 [22' Filed: a 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 252,710

[52] US. Cl 52/533, 52/543, 52/748,

52/750, 52/DIG. 9 [51] Int. Cl E04d l/22, E04d 1/26, E04d 1/34 [58]Field of Search 52/DIG. 9, 533, 528, 748, 52/547, 548, 543, 552, 750;293/1, 51 F, 71 P, DIG. 3; 40/125 M 1,978,519 10/1934 Willock et a1.52/533 1 Apr. 16, 1974 3,692,281 9/1972 Clayton 256/64 1,683,016 9/1928Bell et al....; 52/552 2,260,720, 10/1941 Morthland 52/533 X 2,187,4041/1940 Simons et a1. 52/533 X 2,274,662 3/1942 Briggs et a1. 68/12,182,526 12/1939 Rumer 52/548 2,830,388 4/1958 Goodenberger 40/125 M3,601,935 8/1971 Cadwell 52/2 680,595 8/1901 lnshaw..... 138/156 X12/1970 Gebhard 52/316 X Primary Examiner-Frank L, Abbott [5 7 ABSTRACTand the roof covering resulting from the method. The

invention is also in a coveringfor the outside walls of a building andfor other structures.

13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures TIRE ROOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to coverings forstructures.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, roof coverings have beenconstructed of many types of materials. These materials in part includealuminum shingles, galvanized metal, tin, slate, tile, wooden shinglesand asbestos and cement shingles. Other materials used have beencomposition shingles, which are felts saturated with black asphalt andthen coated with asphalt and sprinkled with solid particles, and layersof felt paper and hot asphalt forming the socalled built-up type ofroof..

The period of time during which the above mentioned roof coveringsremain functional after installation will, of course, vary. The presentinvention should have a life far in excess of that of many of the abovementioned roof coverings. The invention also disposes of discardedautomobile tires which otherwise have been found to be useless.'Up tothis time, these tires also have created a disposal problem and a healthhazard. As an example, tires have often been found to form a breedingplace for mosquitoes.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention is in a method forconverting automobile tires into roof'co'verings for buildings, and

in the resultingroof covering. The invention is also in coverings forthe outside walls of a building and in coverings for other structures. 1

At the outset, the treads and the sidewalls are separated from the tiresand fromeach other by means of a suitable cutting mechanism. Thereafter,the tread portion is segmented into substantially flat portions and thesegments thus formed are used to construct one type of roof covering.

The sidewalls likewise form another type of roof covering. The sidewallsare cut to form substantially flat shingles. shaped substantially liketrapezoids joined together at their bases by,a thin strip of uncut tirematerial located at the outer edge of each sidewall. This strip is thinenough to be flexible in order that the shingles may be laidin astraightline. The gaps which are located between the shingles are filled by asecond overlaying strip of shingles. The rows of shingles overlap thepreviously attached rows in order to allow for water drainage down the,roof.

It can be expected that the roof covering which is constructed from thetire material will have an extremely long useful life. In addition,'theuse of discarded tires asgcomponents in roof construction puts tobeneficial use goods which have been previously of no substantial value.a I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectionalview ofan automobile tire; V

FIG. 2 is a front view of a sidewall of a tire which has been cut intoshingles;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the shingles cut inaccordance with FIG. 2lying in a straight line; I 7

FIG. 4 is a plan view of two rows of shingles according to oneembodiment of the invention attached to a roof structure; i

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the roof of thisinvention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the roof of thisinvention; 7

FIG. 7 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the roof of thisinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, takenat line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows an automobile tirehaving sidewalls 10, tread portion 12, and beads 14, from which the roofcovering of thisvinvention may be made. A cutting mechanism is firstplaced in contact with the outer circumferential edges 16 of thesidewalls 10. This cutting mechanism works to separate the treadedportion 12 ,of the tire from the sidewalls of the tire by cuttingthroughout the entire circumference of the outer circumferential edges16 of the sidewalls 1.0. A manually operated knife may, for example,'beused for the cutting mechanism. Alternatively, those skilled in the artwill appreciatethatmachines for automatically performing such cuttingoperations may be readily devised.

The beads 14 are separated from the sidewalls 10 by utilizing suitablecutting mechanisms to cut through the entire circumference of the innercircumferential edge 18 of the sidewalls l0.

To make shingles such as those shown in FIG. 2, a

cutting mechanism is placed in contact with the inner circumferentialedges 18 ofthe sidewalls. Separations 20 are made in certain locationsabout the tires by cutting from the inner circumferential edges 18 to apoint a short distance from the outer circumferential edges 16. As shownby FIG. 3,- the distance between the points where the cuts end and theouter edges of the sidewalls should be small enough to allow thematerial to flex without any substantial amount of buckling, which willthen allow the shingles to be laid in a straight line. Theamount ofmaterial left may be, for example, one-eighth inch to one-half inch, orpreferable no more than about the thickness of the sidewall. Preferably,as shown by the drawing, each sidewall is cut in half, and each half issegmented to form from three to eight shingles, depending on thedimensions of the sidewall.

A roof covering may be constructed from the shingles cut from thesidewalls. To form each row of shingles, two sets of shingles arerequired. As shown in FIG. 4, in each row of shingles there is anunderlying layer 22 and an inverted overlaying layer 24. The overlayinglayer 24 is required to cover the gaps'between the shingles in theunderlying layer existing when separations 20 are spread apart.

. FIG. 4shows the layers of shingles in their positions relative-to eachother when attached to the roof decking, in one'embodiment of theinvention. Attachment may be by many means including cementing with asuitable cement such as asphalt, nailing each set of shinglesindividually to the roof decking, .or nailing both sets of shingles atone time to the roof decking by driving the nails at the places wherethe overlaying set of shingles 24 contact the underlying set of shingles22. Altemaof each row of shingles to bind them together before deliveryto the roofer. This greatly facilitates installation of the roofingmaterial, and makes it unnecessary for the roofer to provide nails tosecure the material to the roof. The nails should be long enough to passthrough the subjacent row and extend into the roof decking to secure thematerial to it.

In FIG. 4, the shingles of each row are shown aligned with each other.However, alternatively they may be staggered as shown in FIG. 5. As iscommon in the application of roofing materials, the first set ofshingles is attached at the eave of the roof. As shown in FIG. 4, eachsuccessive row 26 is caused to overlap the previously attached row 28lying nearer to the eave of the roof. The overlap is sufficient to allowwater to properly drain from the roof without wetting the surfaceunderlying the shingles, and normally three-fourths inch to 1 inch issufficient.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ridge at the apex of the house may be covered bya row of individual shingles 30 each overlapping an adjacent shingle.Alternatively, the ridge may be covered by other conventional materials.

A roof covering may also be constructed from the tread portion of thetires. A cutting mechanism is placed in contact with the tread portion12 of the tire and the tread portion is cut into one or more segments.As shown in FIG. 6, the segments are attached to the roof decking. Eachsuccessively installed row 32 may be lapped over each previouslyinstalled row 34 as discussed above to allow for proper drainage ofwater. In addition, as a crevice 36 may be formed between the abuttingends of the segments of the tread portion, as shown in FIG. 7 the treadsegments may be overlapped on the ends also. Plastic cement may be usedwithin the laps. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, drainage pans 38 havinga width at least equal to the width of the segments and upturned endlips 40 may be provided as an alternative. These pans, which may be madeof any material such as galvanized steel sheet, would be locatedunderneath the crevices and operate to direct the water .down the roof.Preferably, the pans are held in place by a suitable cement such as tar,but may also be held in place by nails or other means. These pans may beattached to one end of each segment at the plant to insure that they areused for every joint.

It will be appreciated that instead of being on a roof, the material ofthis invention may be used on a sidewall, or in Hansard roofconstruction, or in locations where other roofing materials may be used.

Many variations to the above preferred embodiment will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. It is impractical to show and describe all thevariations included within the invention and as a result the embodimentsdescribed should be considered illustrative only, and not limiting thescope of the invention being as broad as is defined by the appendedclaims. The form of the claims and the specification, including theabstract, is adopted solely for explanation and should not be consideredin interpreting the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A tire roof comprising rows of shingles, which have been cut from thesidewalls of automobile tires, attached to the roof decking of abuilding,

said shingles shaped substantially like trapezoids,

a number of said shingles connected together by the uncut outercircumferential edges of said sidewalls,

said rows of shingles formed by underlying and overlaying layers of saidshingles,

said overlaying layers filling the gaps between the shingles in saidunderlying layers,

said rows of shingles lying nearer the apex of the roof overlapping theadjacent rows of shingles lying nearer the eave of the roof.

2. A tire roof as set forth in claim 1 wherein said overlaying andunderlying layers of shingles are in inverse position to each other.

3. A tire roof as set forth in claim 2 wherein the outer circumferentialedges of said underlying layers lie nearer to the eave of the roof thanthe inner circumferential edges.

.4. A tire roof as set forth in claim 1 and including individualshingles overlapping each other covering the ridge at the apex of thehouse.

5. A method comprising separating the tread portions of automobile tiresfrom the sidewalls by cutting circumferentially throughout the outercircumferential edges of the sidewalls,

separating the sidewall portions of the tires from the beads by cuttingcircumferentially throughout the inner circumferential edges of thesidewalls,

cutting through each sidewall from the inside circumferential edge tothe outside circumferential edge,

cutting a plurality of separations in each sidewall from the insidecircumferential edge to a point near the outside circumferential edge,so that a single layer of shingles is formed between said separations,the distance from the end of each cut to the.

outside circumferential edges of the sidewalls being small enough toflex and allow the shingles to be laid in a straight line,

attaching a first layer of shingles to the eave of a roof decking,

attaching a second layer of shingles over the first layer so that thespread separations within the first layer of shingles are covered by thesecond layer, to form a first row,

attaching a second row of shingles in a manner similar to that used inattaching the first row, said second row overlapping said first row andextending up the roof therefrom, and

in like manner attaching additional rows of shingles necessary to reachthe apex of the roof structure.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 comprising placing each saidoverlaying layer of shingles in inverse position to each said underlyinglayer of shingles.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 comprising placing each saidunderlying layer of shingles so that the outer circumferential edge isnearer to the cave of the roof structure.

8. A method as set forth in claim 5 comprising inserting roofing nailsinto the overlaying and underlying layers before they are delivered tothe roofer, in order to bind them together, said nails being at theappropriate positions to later be driven to attach the layers to theroof decking.

9. A method comprising separating the tread portions of automobile tiresfrom the sidewalls by cutting circumferentially throughout the outercircumferential edges of the sidewalls,

cutting completely through the tires from the first circumferential edgeof the tread portion to the second circumferential edge of the treadportions cutting in like manner similar separations in the treadportions of the tires so that segments are formed,

11. A method as set forth in claim 9 comprising overlapping the abuttingends of said segments. 12. A method as set forth in claim 9 comprisinginserting roofing nails into the segments before they are delivered tothe roofer, said nails being at the appropriate positions to later bedriven to attach the segments to the roof decking. 13. A method ofpreparinga roof covering material comprising separating the sidewalls ofan automobile tire from the tread and beads of the tire,

cutting through each sidewall from the inner circumferential edge to theouter circumferential edge, and

cutting through each sidewall at a plurality of substantially equallycircumferentially spaced locations from the inner circumferential edgeto a distance from the outer circumferential edge no greater than thatwhich will allow flexing sufficient for the adjacent portions of thesidewall to be spread in a substantially straight line.

1. A tire roof comprising rows of shingles, which have been cut from thesidewalls of automobile tires, attached to the roof decking of abuilding, said shingles shaped substantially like trapezoids, a numberof said shingles connected together by the uncut outer circumferentialedges of said sidewalls, said rows of shingles formed by underlying andoverlaying layers of said shingles, said overlaying layers filling thegaps between the shingles in said underlying layers, said rows ofshingles lying nearer the apex of the roof overlapping the adjacent rowsof shingles lying nearer the eave of the roof.
 2. A tire roof as setforth in claim 1 wherein said overlaying and underlying layers ofshingles are in inverse position to each other.
 3. A tire roof as setforth in claim 2 wherein the outer circumferential edges of saidunderlying layers lie nearer to the eave of the roof than the innercircumferential edges.
 4. A tire roof as set forth in claim 1 andincluding individual shingles overlapping each other covering the ridgeat the apex of the house.
 5. A method comprising separating the treadportions of Automobile tires from the sidewalls by cuttingcircumferentially throughout the outer circumferential edges of thesidewalls, separating the sidewall portions of the tires from the beadsby cutting circumferentially throughout the inner circumferential edgesof the sidewalls, cutting through each sidewall from the insidecircumferential edge to the outside circumferential edge, cutting aplurality of separations in each sidewall from the insidecircumferential edge to a point near the outside circumferential edge,so that a single layer of shingles is formed between said separations,the distance from the end of each cut to the outside circumferentialedges of the sidewalls being small enough to flex and allow the shinglesto be laid in a straight line, attaching a first layer of shingles tothe eave of a roof decking, attaching a second layer of shingles overthe first layer so that the spread separations within the first layer ofshingles are covered by the second layer, to form a first row, attachinga second row of shingles in a manner similar to that used in attachingthe first row, said second row overlapping said first row and extendingup the roof therefrom, and in like manner attaching additional rows ofshingles necessary to reach the apex of the roof structure.
 6. A methodas set forth in claim 5 comprising placing each said overlaying layer ofshingles in inverse position to each said underlying layer of shingles.7. The method as set forth in claim 6 comprising placing each saidunderlying layer of shingles so that the outer circumferential edge isnearer to the eave of the roof structure.
 8. A method as set forth inclaim 5 comprising inserting roofing nails into the overlaying andunderlying layers before they are delivered to the roofer, in order tobind them together, said nails being at the appropriate positions tolater be driven to attach the layers to the roof decking.
 9. A methodcomprising separating the tread portions of automobile tires from thesidewalls by cutting circumferentially throughout the outercircumferential edges of the sidewalls, cutting completely through thetires from the first circumferential edge of the tread portion to thesecond circumferential edge of the tread portions cutting in like mannersimilar separations in the tread portions of the tires so that segmentsare formed, attaching a first row of said segments to those portions ofthe roof decking nearest to the eave of a roof, attaching a second rowof said segments so that the second row overlaps the first row andextends up the roof therefrom, and in like manner attaching the rows ofshingles necessary to reach the apex of the roof structure.
 10. A methodas set forth in claim 9 comprising placing drainage pans under theabutting ends of the segments, between said segments and the roofdecking.
 11. A method as set forth in claim 9 comprising overlapping theabutting ends of said segments.
 12. A method as set forth in claim 9comprising inserting roofing nails into the segments before they aredelivered to the roofer, said nails being at the appropriate positionsto later be driven to attach the segments to the roof decking.
 13. Amethod of preparing a roof covering material comprising separating thesidewalls of an automobile tire from the tread and beads of the tire,cutting through each sidewall from the inner circumferential edge to theouter circumferential edge, and cutting through each sidewall at aplurality of substantially equally circumferentially spaced locationsfrom the inner circumferential edge to a distance from the outercircumferential edge no greater than that which will allow flexingsufficient for the adjacent portions of the sidewall to be spread in asubstantially straight line.